Photographic film processing apparatus



H. R. BELL Jan. 3, 1939.

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1938 3Sheets-Sheet l @ffy gllf ATTORNEYS H. R. BELL Jan; 3, 1939.

PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1938 I5Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS Jan. 3, 1939. H. R. BELL 2,142,881

PHOTOGRPHIC FILM PROCESSING APPARATUS Filed MarCh 7, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR Passed im. s, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPH()FII-BI PROCESSING APPARATUS 7Clnims.

My invention relates to photographic film processing or treatingapparatus and more particularly to that class wherein a drum is employedupon which the film is secured.

l One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide aphotographic film processing apparatus equipped with means for securingthe lm in a manner whereby the same is subjected to various treating ordeveloping operations.

u Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the abovedescribed character equipped with means for excluding light from oneside of the illm during the treating operations, including means forconserving the solutions during such operations.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the abovedescribed character having means for automatically taking up anyswelling or stretching of the nlm during the treating operations andthereby prevent overlapping or entanglement of the film.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of theabove described character operable in a manner to agitate the processingsolutions durlng the treating operations and thereby eli'ect a uniformtreatment of the film.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a means ofguarding the lm during the treating thereof to prevent damage to itsbase or emulsion and at the same time permit visual inspection over theentire surface of the lm.

Other objects, for instance, means of exposing the film to lightuniformly over its entire length or any section thereof during thetreating operations, means by which the im may be kept from widelyvarying temperatures during treatment or held in the scope of somedesired temperature, means whereby the drum of the apparatus on whichthe nlm is contained may be readily detached thereby permitting anotherdrum to be substituted for treating other film, means embracing a deepand continuous ilm track whereby loading of the nlm i'or treatment maybe accomplished in the dark without being subjected to harmful lightrays, and means provided for the instant change of the film from onesolution to another without the necessity of waiting to drain a usedtray and rell the same thereby providing for continuous treatingoperation. will be apparent from the following description, appendedclaims and annexed drawings. f

Referring vto the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

u Hg. l is a side elevation of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary side elevation. partly in section,illustrating the drum positioned 5 for rotation within one of the trays.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a clip used in securing the endof a film to the drum.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of an anchoring member which coactswith a resilient meml ber and clip to secure the end of a lm to thedrum.

In practicing my invention there is provided an elongated base or bed ofsubstantially rectangular configuration comprising side members i se- 16cured to each other in spaced relation by transverse members 1.Supported on each pair of the transverse members 1 is a tray 8, saidtrays adapted to contain a suitable developing or treating solution fora film hereinafter set forth. 20 Intermediate of the trays I, the sidemembers 6 have secured thereto upwardly extending brackets 9 in whichare journaled the end sections of a transversely extending shaft III.

Mounted on the ends of the shaft I l adjacent the brackets 9 areupwardly extending support members II, the upper ends of which areslotted as at I2 to receive therein a hollow driven shaft I3 on which ismounted a drum Il adapted to receive on the outer periphery thereofphoto- 90 graphic film. The lower ends of the support members aresecured to the shaft Il by means of pins I5 extending through the endsof said shaft I0 as clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. Thelower ends of the pins I5 are aper- 35 tured to receive the ends of apair of coil springs I6. 'I'he opposite ends of said coil springs areconnected to adjustable rods I I slidably connected to the bed 5 bymeans of eye members I8 adjacent the ends of said bed. Knurled nuts I 840 are employed on the ends of said rods for engagement with eye memberswhereby said rods are adjustable to vary the tension of the springs I6.

The drum I4 is fashioned on the outer periph- 45 ery thereof with aradially and spirally extending flange 2li forming a plurality ofchannels 2| for receiving therein a length of photographic lm 22. Eachend of said film is folded to form a loop for retaining therethrough aresilient member 23 and said loop is secured in folded position aboutsaid resilient member by means of a spring clip 24 as clearlyillustrated in Figure 5. The elastic member 23 adjacent the outer end ofthe drum is secured to the drum by means of an infiected section 25formed on the drum. The elastic member 23 secured to the opposite end ofthe film is secured to a hook 26 of an anchoring member 21, said memberbeing provided with resilient sides for engagement with the side wallsof the respective channel in which the aforesaid end of the filmterminates. Due to the resilient member 23 the length of film extendingabout the drum is maintained in tensioned condition, one side thereofengaging the outer periphery of the drum thereby excluding light fromsaid side. The sides of the drum I4 comprise a circumferentiallyextending flange having inwardly extending spokes mounted on the shaftI3 and said flange forms a reservoir for receiving liquid introducedtherein through the hollow shaft I3 and outlet ports formed therein.This liquid is of such a temperature that the film may be maintained ata desired temperature during the processing thereof.

Mounted on the shaft IU is a cone pulley having belt sections 28 and 29.The section 29 is connected to a pulley 30 xed on the shaft I3 by meansof a drive belt 3| and the section 28 is connected to a drive pulley 3Iaon a motor drive shaft 32 by means of a belt 33. A suitable electricmotor 34 having the drive shaft 32 is mounted adjacent one of the sidemembers B and serves to rotate the drum I4 through the connected chainor mechanism heretofore described. On each side of the brackets 9 areeccentrically mounted stop blocks 35 by means of screws 36, said stopblocks being adjustable about said Screws. Subjacent the drum I4 andhaving ends connected to the support members II, is a drip shield 31whereby to direct liquid dripping from the drum into the tray in whichthe drum is positioned for operation. It is to be understood that bydisconnecting the driv'e belt 3l from the pulley 30, the shaft I3carrying the drum I4 may be disengaged from the supports II and a drumfor accommodating film of a different width attached for operationthereto.

When the supports' II are positioned vertically between the trays 8, thesprings IB coact with each other to balance the drum in said positionand said drum may be rotated for inspection of the film or otherpurpose.

Movement of the drum or supports towards either of the trays 8 willpermit the drum to be maintained in rotating position within said traysby means of the pins I engaging the stop members 35.

As heretofore stated, the stop members 35 may be adjusted about thescrews 6 to adjust the position of the drum relative to the innerperiphery of the trays. In this position, the weight of the drum issufficient to overcome the resiliency of one of the springs, the otherspring coacting with the supports to maintain the drum in the desiredtray. When the drum is positioned for rotation within the trays, thesame is rotated in the same manner as described in the vertical orneutral position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simple andemcient apparatus upon which photographic film may be secured andsubjected to the various developing operations.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising, a bed, supportmembers pivoted to said bed, a drum having a drive shaft journaled insaid members, said drum adapted to receive thereon photographic nlm,spaced trays subja-4 cent said drum, and means carried by said supportmembers and connected to said bed on each side of said members wherebyto effect positioning of said drum between said trays and to permitpositioning of said drum in either of said trays.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, a bed, supportmembers pivoted to said bed, a drum having a drive shaft journaled insaid members, said drum adapted to receive thereon photographic lm,spaced trays subjacent said drum, means carried by said support membersand connected to said bed on each side of said members whereby to effectpositioning of said drum between said trays and to permit positioning ofsaid drum in either of said trays, and a source of power connected tosaid drum whereby to rotate the same in the said positions.

3. A device of the character described, comprising, a bed, supportmembers pivoted to said bed, a drum having a drive shaft journaled insaid members, said drum adapted to receive thereon photographic nlm,means for attaching said film to said drum, spaced trays subjacent saiddrum, and means carried by said support members and connected to saidbed on each side of said members whereby to effect positioning of saiddrum between said trays and to permit positioning of said drum in eitherof said trays.

4. A device of the character described, comprising, a bed,v bracketssecured to said bed, support members pivoted to said brackets, a drumdetachably mounted between said support members, said drum formed with aspiral channel on the outer circumference thereof, means in said channelfor securing a length of film therein, spaced trays subjacent said drumand supported on said bed, arms carried by said support members, stopmembers adjustably mounted on said brackets coacting with said arms forlimiting the movement of said support members, springs carried by saidarms and adjustably connected to said bed on each side of said bracketswhereby to effect positioning of said drum between said trays and topermit the positioning of said drum in either of said trays, a source ofpower mounted adjacent said bed, and means connecting said source ofpower to said drum whereby to rotate said drum in any of said positions.y

5. A device of the character described, comprising, a bed, supportmembers pivoted to said bed, a drum having a drive shaft journaled insaid members, said members adapted to have secured thereon photographicfilm, resilient means carried by said drum for attaching said filmthereto and maintaining the film in a tensioned condition about saiddrum, spaced trays adjacent said drum, and means carried by said supportmembers and connected to said bed on each side of said members wherebyto effect positioning of said drum between said trays and to permitready positioning of said drum from one tray to another.

6. A device of the character described, comprising, a bed, supportmembers pivoted to said bed, a drum having a drive shaft journaled insaid members, said drum adapted to receive thereon photographic film,spaced trays subjacent said drum, and means carried by said supportmembers and connected to said bed on each side ofsaid members whereby toeffect positioning of said drum between said trays and to permitpositioning of said drum in either of Said trays, said drum fashionedwith circumferand connected to said bed on each side of said memberwhereby to eiIect positioning oi said drum between said trays and topermit positioning of said drum in either of said trays, and a dripshield subjacent said drum for directing solution from said film intoone of said trays when said drum is positioned between said trays.

HARRY R. BELL.

